Chapter Two
Present Day
Freya was shivering. From the ocean arose a soft breeze that gentled the day’s heat, but for her, it was just too cold.
She wasn’t aware of arriving at the village.
The last thing she remembered was being at the hospital, recounting how John had killed her parents and kidnapped her.
What happened in the almost three years she’d been away was just too terrible for her to recount everything.
Even when the police insisted, her anxiety spiked, making the machines sound the alert.
An older man, who seemed to have designated himself as her protector, had gotten rid of them and sat by the door, not allowing anyone in the room except for her doctor.
The man worked for the High King, and despite his size, he had gentle hands and gentler eyes.
But she couldn’t bear to be in the same room as an unknown man, or wolf, or whatever the hell he was, and when the panic attack caught them both unaware, he was invited by her doctor to leave and stand guard outside.
She’d been given a strong sedative, only waking up in that house. On the table was a credit card, papers with her new identity card, and a letter in the name of the High King.
My dear,
Words cannot express how sorry I am for everything you’ve been through at the hands of a wolf.
A mate bond is something sacred, given by the Moon Goddess herself.
Finding our mate is the greatest joy in the life of a werewolf.
A mate is the other part of our soul. To think that bond was distorted with cruelty and pain just shows how cruel and unstable that wolf really was. It’s unthinkable.
My heart cannot bear the thought of leaving you, for I grew fond of you during your stay with us. I cannot, however, be the cause for more pain. You’ve already suffered enough to last for several lifetimes.
Our kind lives in hiding throughout the world. That’s how we want to keep it, it’s our choice. I know we are past this, but I beseech you not to reveal us to the outside world. The war that would surely ensue would be enough to drown the world in blood.
With this letter, you’ll find a credit card with enough on it so that you can live comfortably for the next few years.
The house is paid in full and it’s yours.
Should you choose to sell it and move is up to you.
But this was the most secluded place I found, and the safest. Safe from us, our wars, and our wolves.
The money will be deposited monthly in your bank account; you can access it through this card. You won’t need to work, unless you choose to. Again, your choice.
You’re free. From him and from us. Heal, my dear, and when you face your scars, remember: you are victorious. You have won. You are a warrior and your courage brought to knees my fiercest warriors.
I’ll be always only a letter away. If you need to reach out to me, simply write on the envelope “To Mace Ravenclaw” and believe me, I’ll receive it quickly and swiftly.
I bid you farewell with the highest consideration.
Mace Ravenclaw
She’d snorted the first time she read the letter.
Admiration, ha! She was disgusted with her body.
Her back, legs, and arms were a crossroads of scars where he had sunk his claws, drawing blood and prolonging her pain as much as possible.
She wasn’t even aware if she could have children, for she had been left bleeding so many times that it was impossible for her womb to work properly.
She did not have the heart to ask the doctors about that.
And considering everything that was necessary to conceive ... yeah, she wouldn’t go down that road.
Lewis had taken everything from her, from her first kiss to her innocence. He had brutalized her in a way that made her think she was unlovable.
And now, she was damaged. She didn’t want anything with anyone.
After reading the letter, she explored the little house. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, a large living room, and a kitchen that opened to the living room. There was a pantry, fully stocked, and the freezer was full to the brim as well. Simple, not exceptionally large ... comfy.
It even had a backyard with an apple tree and a small barbecue.
Mace had thought of everything.
Everything but her fears, her lack of appetite, her apathy. She had gone without food for so long that the idea of eating was causing her nausea. Sometimes, she was only given water or milk, up until Lewis remembered she had no wolf to help her heal. Then, she would eat.
It was a struggle to eat, to sleep, to leave the house. Despite the heat of the day, she wrapped herself in a woolen sweater, a scarf, gloves, and loose pants. She should be sweating ... instead, she was curled up behind her couch, shivering.
Someone was at the door, knocking softly. Through the window, she could see an elderly lady with a teenager at her side, and panic set in. She couldn’t see anyone else, but in her mind, the elderly lady was just a decoy for someone to come, to assault her...
Mace said Lewis and his wretched cousins were dead. He said the High King had executed all that followed Lewis ... but what if someone had escaped? What would become of her if they found her?
The knocking ceased and she took a deep breath. She was struggling to leave that corner, terrified of shadows.
Did she do the right thing to leave? Mace said he’d protected her. But he was a werewolf, like Lewis ... how could he protect her from himself?
A piece of paper slipped under the door, but she didn’t notice immediately. Only when she managed to get up and crawl from behind the sofa did she notice the piece of paper. She reached for it with a trembling hand.
Welcome to the neighborhood! I’m Evelyn, your next-door neighbor. Feel free to visit! I’m almost always at home. Hope you like apples!
Frowning, she turned the paper, but there wasn’t anything more. Apples? Surprised, she opened the door a little, only to find an apple pie inside a pie dish, covered in plastic. It was something so homey, so like something her own mother would do, that it brought tears to her eyes.
That she wasn’t able of eating much, Evelyn wouldn’t know.
The door was letting the breeze of the ocean enter and Freya shivered again. Bringing the apple pie inside, her head turned. She feared nosy neighbors, but Evelyn had been so sweet.
But then she heard a dog bark, and her mind was immediately brought back to one of the full moon nights, when she would be hunted like an animal. With a scream, she fell to the ground and curled up into a ball, in the fetal position.